PSD Grade Configuration Space

This site has been set up as a place to discuss PSD's K-8 grade configuration possibilities. Please browse around, visit the Navigation links on the left side of the page, and, if you're interested, add new information to this site, either by clicking "Edit This Page" or by joining the discussion.

Implementation Steps and Considerations for Grade Configuration and Student Based Budgeting Initiatives: A White Paper for Planning Teams (PDF)

K-8 Implications Wheel Final Report

To access the K-8 Rationale Team Implications Wheel Report for K-8 Grade Configuration Study, please click here (671 kb).

Matrix for considering topics for different configuration possibilities.

If you have information to place in the cells of the matrix, please click "Edit This Page" above and enter your information. If you would like to pose questions or other comments, please use the discussion area of this site. Thanks.

	K-8	K-4, 5-8	K-5, 6-8
Transportation costs and travel issues.	Cut in travel time and transportation costs.	Increased cost and travel time for 5th & 6th grade students.	Increased cost and travel time for 6th grade students. I wondered if this is true- if a bus runs already for 7-9 graders- will there be an additional bus for 6th graders or will they be on same bus? Good point--I, too, wonder if transporation costs will increase.
Effect on parent involvement	Given the degree of involvement in a "typical" elementary school one might assume parents are more likely to be involved in additional grades or at least maintain better communication with principal/teachers. I wonder though given typical technical/computer skills in elementary schools whether advanced technology for classroom discussions, posting homework assignments for parents to check on students would be less likely?	As the schools in this case will no longer be true "neighborhood" schools, it appears that parental involvement would be significantly less.	K-5 would likely stay the same. There seems to be a perception in the community that parents are not so "welcome" in the jr highs. This might mean that parents would perceive the same lack of welcome for the 6th grade classes in middle school. For parents of sixth grade students, the involvement may not be in classrooms; but the opportunity to serve on "School Improvement Teams" is always a possiblity--for those parents who want to stay involved, I believe there will be opportunities to get involved.
Grade-level size affecting course offerings and/or instructional groupings.	Offerings for 7th and 8th grade students would be reduced. Smaller grade-levels could improve targeting instruction for struggling students. This targeting might be limited by resource issues as numbers might be too small to justify additional staff.	Could provide more specified opportunities for 5th and 6th grade students.	Could provide more specified opportunities for 6th grade students. Definitely easier to provide the advanced math to 6th graders rather than the special busing now used. I would love to read the opinions of sixth grade teachers
Data on student achievement.	Research shows this configuration works with lower economic status families. There is data to show that transitions negatively affect student achievement, and this configuration eliminates a transition.		If transitions are an issue then the number of transitions remains the same just at a lower grade level. Should have no impact on achievement. One issue heard from a 6th grade teacher is pressure for image with the girls. Her feeling was too many times she has heard girls say they don't want to appear "smart" in front of the boys and she feels that will be more challenging as they are exposed to the older boys in middle school. Even staying K-6 her feeling is that science curriculum needs to be strengthened as that is an advantage of this particular configuration for 6th graders' exposure to a better science curriculum.
Loss of neighborhood schools or school closings.	Maybe keep underutilized schools by increasing enrollment. But what impact might choice have here- either positive or negative? What effect on junior highs that lose 7th & 8th graders?	Creates smaller elementary schools. Could end up losing some elementary schools through consolidation.	Creates smaller elementary schools. Effect is not as great as a K-4 change would be.
Points of transition and articulation.	Removes 1 transition for students.	Same number of transitions. Earlier transition.	Curriculum articulation is more aligned with K-5. PSD's math programs are K-5 and 6-8. The newly adopted social studies text is at least in grades 6-7 (not sure about 8). Open Court Reading is in sixth grade, but is of limited use for strong readers and for those with significant needs. More specialization in this area could benefit sixth graders of all abilities.
Interaction between range of grade levels (variety of groupings, mentor students...)	Maximizes opportunities for mentors, buddies, and a variety of groupings.	Lessens the opportunities for grouping compared to current.	Slightly lessens the opportunities for grouping compared to current.
Effect of presence or absence of of older students on younger students.	Strong mentoring programs possible. Concern that some older students would model inappropriate behaviors. Having young children on site may bring out better behavior in older students.	Definitely limits the potential interactions between very young and older kids in elementary level. Concerns have been expressed about the exposure of the 5th graders to middle school environment.	Not significantly different than the current model. Would reduce the potential interaction between younger and older students since one grade is moved up. Depending how one views these interactions, this might be positive or negative. Several parents express concern about their 6th graders getting exposed to the more mature, "less appropriately dressed (one parent's comment), students. This seems to be the main issue brought up in the Denver Post article about DPS middle schools. Would some sixth grade students be better off under the watchful eye of a classroom teacher? As I look back, I can name sixth graders who may have "fallen through the cracks" in a middle/junior high environment. As I read and hear much of the commentary, it seems there is confusion between what a middle school environment is like as opposed to a junior high. If done properly, there are significant differences between the two. A challenge for the teams is making sure that differentiation is understood, not only by the public but also by the district in designing the schools if it is a chosen configuration.
Design of school buildings matching grade configuration.	Would need to seriously consider how elementary buildings would adapt to K-8 for the upper grade students. So true. . .elementary computer labs certainly aren't designed to accommodate seventh and eighth grade students.	Seems as though the elementary buildings match this configuration fairly well. Would have to consider having 5th graders in the middle schools.	Seems as though the buildings match this configuration fairly well.